Electrical protective device



June 10, 1952 G. F. LlNcKS ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed sept. zo, 1949 Inventor George `F`. Lino ks, by

v H s Attorrw ey.`

D A 0 LA 0 T Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE George F. Lincks, Pittsfield, Mass., assigner to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1949, Serial No. 116,702

4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to electrical protective devices of the type known as fuseless cutout which are frequently employed in electrical distribution system supplying power to domestic and other types of electrical loads.

In such systems it is common practice to make use of fuseless cutouts in combination with a circuit interrupting device such as an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, to protect transformers and other apparatus being supplied by the distribution system under various types of fault conditions. In the case of a number of such branch circuits to connected apparatus being supplied from a common reclosing circuit breaker a fuseless cutout may be employed in each of the branch circuits to isolate a particular branch circuit, in case of a fault condition therein, from the rest of the system. The cutout is made to operate in response to a fault current prior to the operation of the circuit breaker.

Since a fuseless cutout is generally not a reclosing device, once the cutout has opened, the branch circuit in which it is connected is isolated from the system until the cutout is again closed by an operator. However, should a fuseless cutout fail to isolate the circuit in which it is connected, due to prolonged arcing or other unusual conditions, the reclosing circuit breaker is caused to function by the fault current. Operation of the reclosing circuit breaker causes interruption of the branch circuit wherein a fault condition exists, but in addition all other branch circuits served by the reclosing circuit breaker are also temporarily interrupted.

Such interruptions, which are commonly known as momentary outages, are annoying to power users due to stoppage of electric clocks and other appliances and are particularly undesirable on circuits to which motors are connected. It is therefore desirable to reduce to a minimum the i number of momentary outages occurring in a distribution system.

Another feature of certain fuseless cutout devices which have been usedv heretofore is the grounding of an interrupted line by the action of a fuseless cutout device following operation thereof due to a fault condition. In certain transformer connections in distribution systems it may permissible to ground a faulted line. However in other transformer connections, for example a three-phase Y-delta transformer arrangement, it is poor operating practice to connect the Y of a primary winding to ground since the Y point of the other two transformers would likewise be grounded after the recloser restores e (Cl. F-294) 2 service on the rest of the system. Accordingly it is desirable to provide a fuseless cutout device which does not permanently ground a faulted line.

Another desirable characteristic of a fuscless cutout device is the incorporation therein of an arc-suppressing device. If, when such a cutout device is caused to operate, the resulting arc occurring at the cutout may be extinguished by suppressing action therein then an associated circuit breaker is not required to function and the number of momentary interruptions or outages occurring in branch circuits served by the breaker, other than the circuit in which a fault exists, is reduced to a minimum.

It is an object of my invention to provide a fuseless cutout device in which the interrupted line is not permanently connected to ground or any other potential but is left isolated in the nal open-circuit operating position of the cutout.

It is another object of my invention to provide a fuseless cutout device having incorporated therein arc-suppressing means to facilitate selfextinguishment of the arc by the cutout itself rather than in response to interruption by an associated circuit breaking device.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a fuseless cutout device in which an arc is guided away by an arc-deflecting arrangement from the parts of the cutout to which damage may be done by the arc.

In a preferred embodiment my invention provides a fuseless cutout device in which a switch arm normally engaged with a contact is caused, in response to action of a current-responsive element, such as a thermostatic device, to swing free of the Contact through an arc chute inl the vicinity of an auxiliary arcing electrode or arcing horn. An arc originally existing between the contact and switch arm is transferred from the switch arm to the arcing horn which is located in the arc chute and which may be connected to ground the opposite side of the power source. The transfer may take place without actual electrical engagement between the contact arm and arcing horn. Following transfer of the are the switch arm continues to swing through the arc chute, finally reaching a free position in which the arm 4and the line connected thereto are insulated from ground or the opposite side of the power source.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims, in which the features of my invention believed to be novel are set forth. In the drawing Fig. l represents an elevational side view of a fuseless cutout device embodying certain features of my invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational front View of the device shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical relationship of certain of the elements shown in Figs. l and 2.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, there is shown a fuseless cutout device I having an incoming line terminal 2 and an outgoing load terminal 3 supported and insulated from each other by an insulating member i and arranged to be interconnected by a. switch mechanism 5. Insulator 4 may be of conventional design and of a size suitable for the system 'voltage employed, and is preferably formed of a ceramic material such as porcelain. Terminal 2 is formed by a threaded lug fastened, as by cementing, in the upper end of insulator 4. Terminal 3 is formed by a threaded lug similarly fastened in the lower end of lnsulator 4.

A fixed contact 3 is provided for switch mechanism 5 at lug or terminal 2. Contact f5 is formed of a relatively stiff wire doubled back and welded or otherwise fastened upon itself to form a mounting eyelet I which is secured to lug 2 by a suitable nut 8, thereby making contact S electrically common with terminal 2. Contact is provided with an engaging portion 3 having a generally Y-shaped configuration formed by the ends of the wire. An arcing horn IQ having a generally curved sha-pe is fixed to contact near engaging portion 9 thereof.

The movable arm portion of switch mechanism 5 includes a switch arm II and a flipper arm I2 connected together in a hinged relation. Flipper arm I2 is formed of a wire having a high degree of elasticity. One end of flipper arm I2 is provided with a suitable mounting eyelet I3 which is secured to lug or terminal 3 by a suitable nut I4 to hold eyelet I3 in fixed relationship with insulator 4. A pair of insulators I5 and I5' is interposed between lug and eyelet I3 to insulate flipper arm I2 from lug 3. The rotatable portion IS of flipper arm I2, which is at the opposite end of arm I2 from eyelet I3, is connected thereto through aV spring loop or loops I'I wound in the length of wire forming flipper arm I2. Spring loop Il is wound in such manner that portion I6 of flipper arm I2 is biased in a clockwise direction with respect to insulator 4.

The upper extremity of flipper arm I2 is provided with a generally U-shaped clevis I8 which may be welded or otherwise attached in ilxed relation to flipper arm I2. Switch arm I I is provided at the lower end thereof with a mounting eyelet I9 which permits arm I I to be rotatably mounted with respect to clevis I3 by the use of a pin 20 arranged to pass through clevis I8 and eyelet I9. Pin 23 is secured with respect to clevis I8 by a press-llt or other suitable locking arrangement. Arms II and I2 may be connected electrically by a flexible connector (not shown) where currents are of sufficient magnitude to make such a connection necessary. `Switch arm II is biased to move in a counterclockwise direction with respect to flipper arm I2 by a spring 2I arranged to engage clevis I8 and switch arm I I.

Cutout device I is supported by a hanger 22 attached to a collar 23 which is clamped about the center portion of insulator 4 by a suitable bolt 24 and nut 25, which also serves to fasten hanger 22 to collar 23. A secondary function of hanger 22 is to serve as a terminal to which a return path may be provided for arcing current as will be hereinafter described. An arcing electrode or arcing horn 2S, formed of a length of wire and having a generally curved shape at the upper portion thereof, is attached to collar 23 and made electrically common therewith. Arcing horn 23 is positioned approximately in a plane with arcing horn ID and arms II and I2. An arc chute 2l having a pair of generally parallel plates 23 and 29, formed of a material conventionally used for arc-suppressing devices, is suitably mounted on an extension of collar 23 and arranged so that arcing horn 26 is positioned between plates 23 and 23.

Flipper arm I2 is maintained in a latched position against the spring action of loop Il by a latch mechanism 30 which comprises principally a supporting member 3l. a. thermostatic element 32 and a latch 33. Support 3| is formed` of a conducting material, preferably metal, and is mounted in fixed relation with respect to insulator 4 by the clamping action of insulators I5 and I5 and nut I4. Support 3I is arranged to be electrically common with lug 3. Latch 33 is mounted on a supporting member 34 which is secured in fixed relation to support 3I by screw 35. Latch 33 is attached to support 34 by a pin 3G.

Thermostatic element 32 comprises a pair of bimetallic strips 3l and 38 secured by a pair of screws 39 to a supporting block 4U which in turn is supported by a bracket 4I. Bracket 4l is secured to support 3I by a screw 42 and nut 43. The free ends of bimetallic strips 3l and 38 are secured by welding or other fastening means to a generally U-shaped bracket 44. A screw is threadedly attached to bracket 44 and arranged to have the insulating head 45 thereof positioned in the vicinity of latch 33. Bracket 4|, support 43 and bracket 44 are all formed of a conducting material such as metal, providing a conducting path from lug 3 to bracket 44. A flexible electrical conductor 41 is provided between bracket 44 and flipper arm I2.

When thermostatic element 32 is at a relatively low temperature, such as normal atmospheric temperature, bimetallic strips 3T and 38 are in a normal or substantially flat position. Under this condition screw 45 is adjusted so that interfering engagement between head 45 and latch 33 is cffected to cause latch 33 to engage flipper arm I2. Latch 33 is provided with a cam-like surface so that when flipper arm I2 is raised to a position above latch 33, latch 33 is forced to pivot in a clockwise direction permitting flipper arm I2 to pass thereby. Once latch 33 is past flipper arm I2 the spring action of bimetal elements 3l and 38 forces latch 33 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to prevent the return of flipper arm I2 from its latched position. However, should the force exerted against latch 33 by screw head 46 be reduced sufficiently the biasing action of spring loop I'I forces flipper arm I2 past latch 33 to an unlatched position.

Thermostatic element 32 is arranged so that when bi-metallic strips 3l and 38 are heated, as by the passage of current therethrough, strips 31 and 38, which are normally flat, are caused to deflect in a clockwise direction with respect to support 4D. Such deflection has the effect of releasing latch 33 to permit flipper arm I2 to be biased by spring loop I1 to its unlatched position. Flipper arm I2 is shown in its latched position by solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and in 5. its unlatched position by a broken linek designatedby numeral I2 in Fig. 1.

The length of switchA arm II' is such that disengagement between the endll' thereof'and contact v is effected in response to unlatchingV of' flipper arm I2. Once arm H is'free of contact 5, biasing spring 2| causes rotation of arml II in a counter-clockwise direction about pin 20; The length of arm II- is further arrangedr so that end 4B passes relatively close to but does not necessarily engage arci'ng horn 25. The final or free position of arm Il is indicated in Fig. 1 by a broken line view thereof L When arms Il and l2 occupy their unlatched positions cutout device I may be considered to be in an. open or tripped position. To return arms II and I2 to their latched o1' re-set position, a loop 49 is provided in arm II which may be engaged by a suitable switch stick. In such an operation, a force is rst applied through loop 49 to move arm Ii clockwise so it will clear contact G and then inwardly and upwardly in order to latch flexible arm I2. Then a counterclockwise force is applied to arm I I to cause engagement thereof with Contact 5 at Y-shaped portion 9. When cutout I is in its closedv position a conducting path exists therethrough from terminal 2 through contact 6, switch arm II, flipper arm I2, flexible lead di, bracket yIIA'I, bi metal elements 37' and 38, support 49,. bracket fi I, and support SI to terminal 3.

Referring now to: Fig. 3, the electrical relationship of the principal elements shown in Figs. l and 2 is shown in schematic form. Cutout I which is represented within a closed broken line is shown in its open position. Cutoutk I is con-- neet-ed in series relation with a line in a branch circuit of an electrical distribution system. The line is connected to input terminal 2 and the load to output terminals.

In normal operation, cutout device I` remains closed `while the currents therethrough and in particular through thermostatic element 32 are normal in magnitude. Flipper arm I2 is maintained in its latched position by latch 33 and thermostatic element 32, and switch arm II is maintained in electrical engagement with contact '5. Ii the current through cutout i becomes abnormal due to a fault condition in the line therebeyond, abnormal heating occurs in bimetallic strips 3.? and 38 ci thermostatic ele ment 32 causing deflection thereof with release of iiipper arm i2 by latch Under suchv a condition, switch arm I I is disengaged from contact 6. As arm II moves away from contact li, the current flowing previously therebetween becomes an arc between contact 5 and arm II. As end 48 of arm II passes in the vicinity of arcing horn 26 there is a tendency for the are to be transferred from arm I I to arcing horn 2$ causing the arc then to exist between arcing horns 2t and I8, the latter being electrically common with contact 6. As previously indicated support `22 forms an auxiliary terminal for cutout I and may be connected to ground in the case of a grounded distribution system or to the opposite line to provide a return path for arcing current owing to arcing horn 25.

Following the transfer of the arc from arm l i to arcing horn 2t, arm Il drops to its free position in which it is insulated from ground. Referringv to Fig. 3, an arc 58 is shown between arcing horns le and 26 and a return path for the current in arc `5I] from terminal 22 is represented as a ground connection to terminal 22.

6r ItJ will be seen that arms H; and I2: are not connected to ground' in their open position and ac-t cordingly terminalv 3 and the line connected thereto are not groundedbut are insulated from ground.

Transfer of the arc from arm II to arcing horn 26^ in general. creates' a short circuit condition in the branch circuit with a tendency for the are to increase substantially in magnitude over the previous arc which had a: return path through arelatively high-impedance fault beyond cutout device I. Therefore it is desirable not only` toV provide arc-suppressing means inV cutout I but to provide arc-deecting means should the arc fail to be extinguished. The arc between arcing. horns 2t and I is caused to pass between plates 28 andi 29k of arc chute 27. The presence of are chute 21 has a tendency to extinguish the arc. However, should the arc persist, a tendency is provided, by properly shapingi and positioning. arcing horns I0.' and 25, for the arcA to bedeflected away from the operating elementsy of cutout I' to. minimize the danger of damage thereto;

Should: an arc fail4 to be extinguished by action of arc chute 21 the relatively high short circuit'. current causes opening of an automatic reelosing. circuit interrupter such as a circuit breaker (not shown) normally connected in the distribution system with cutout device I=. Opening of the circuit interrupter causes interruptions of the currentr flowing in the formy of arc 5B between arcing hornsv ICIv and 26 of cutout i and thereby causes extinguishment of the arc. Thus: when the circuit interruptor recloses cutout I is in an open condition, thereby isolating the branch circuit connected thereto in which fault conditiouis` assumed to exist, from the remainder of the distribution system'. Following removalV of the fault condition, cutout device l may again be closed by an' operator in the manner describedl to restore service to the branch circuit.

By the use of. a cutout device constructed in accordance with my'invention' a circuit protective device is provided' in which a iau'lted line is insulated from grounds or another return path following the, opening of the line by the protective device. Such isolation of a line is particularly desirable in the case of manyV transformer connectionsl in common use on distribution systems. A cutoutdevice ofthe type described additionally provides an arc-suppressing element which is highly effective in extinguishing the arcs accompanying opening of the cutout device. Therefore' thek number of operations required of a ren closing circuit breaker is reduced to a minimum. resulting in a minimum of momentary outages on branch circuits in which. fault conditions do not exist. Furthermore, should an arc persist for an appreciable period of time an arc-deflecting arrangement is. providedy to keep the arc away from operating elements of the cutout to prevent damage thereto until extinguishment of the arc is eifected by opening of an associated circuit breaking device.

Although in the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described I have included arcsuppressingmeans in the form of an arc chute to aid in suppressing and deflecting an arc occurring in the fuseless cutout device, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the case wherein such an arc-suppressing element is included. A cutout device may equally Well bev constructed in accordance with my invention to provide, without regard to arc suppression or deflection, the particular feature of not permanently connecting a faulted line to the return path following opening of the cutout.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that my invention may well take other forms and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modinca tions as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An electrical protective device for connection between a load terminal connected to a load line and a supply terminal connected to a supply line comprising a switch including a supply contact mounted on a support of insulating material and electrically connected to said supply line, a switch arm having means for mounting on said support and electrically insulated from said load tei and from ground thereby, said switch arm having one end movable along a path between latched position in engagement with said supply contact and a neutral position, means biasing said switch arm towards said neutral position, an l holding means connected in series between sa load terminal and said switch arm for "taining said switch arm in engagement with said supply contact, said holding means being responsive to I?- overcurrents therein in excess of a predetermined value to release said switch arm, a grounded auxiliary electrode positioned adjacent said path of movement of said switch arm at a point intermediate its latched and neutral positions and i sulated from said supply contact and said switch arm, whereby when said arm tra-verses said path from said latched position to said neutral posi tion arc current iiowing between said supply contact and said switch arm is transferred to now between said supply contact and said auxiliar;7 electrode and thence to ground allowing said load terminal to remain at a potential above ground.

2. An electrical protective device for connection between a load terminal connected to a load line and a supply terminal connected to a supply line comprising switching means including a supply contact mounted on a support of insulating material and connected to said supply line, a pivoted switch arm having means for mounting on said support and electrically insulated from said load terminal and from ground thereby, said switch arm having an end movable along a path between a latched position in engagement with said supply contact and a neutral position, said switch arm being biased towards said neutral position, means electrically connected between said load terminal and said switch arm for holding said switch arm in engagement with said supply contact including a latching element and means for locking said latching element, said means being responsive to a predetermined Value of current flowing therethrough to release said arm, a grounded auxiliary electrode positioned adjacent said path of movement of said switch arm at a point inter-t mediate its latched and neutral positions and insulated from said supply contact and said switch arm, whereby when said arm traverses said path from said latched position to said neutral position, arc current flowing between said supply contact and said switch arm is transferred to flow between said supply contact and said auxiliary electrode and thence to ground allowing said load terminal to remain at a potential above ground.

3. An electrical protective device comprising an elongated support insulator,

an elongated support insulator, a Contact electrically connected to a line terminal mounted at one end of said insulator, a load terminal mounted at the opposite end of said insulator, a switch mechanism including a iiipper arm of resilient conducting material insulated from said load terminal with one end thereof fixedly mounted at said opposite end of said insulator, said flipper arm normally biased for rotation of the free end thereof in one direction with respect to said insulator, a switch arm of conducting material having one end thereof electrically connected to and pivotally mounted on said free end of said flipper arm and normally biased for rotation in a different direction with respect to said insulator, the opposite end of said switch arm being engageable with said line terminal contact, a grounded auxiliary electrode mounted on said insulator intermediate the ends thereof substantially in the plane of rotation of said switch arm and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom and a predetermined distance from said line terminal contact, holding means electrically connected in series between said load terminal and said flipper arm to normally hold the free end of said iiipper arm from rotation in said one direction and said opposite end of said switch arm in engagement with said line terminal contact, holding means being responsive to overcurrents therein in excess of a predetermined Value to permit release of said arms for rotation in said one direc tion of the free end of said flipper ara, disengagement of said switch arm from said line terminal contact and rotation thereof in said different direction whereby the arc established ben tween said switch arm and said line terminal contact is transferred to said grounded auxiliary electrode.

4. An electrical protective device comprising a contact electrically connected to a line terminal mounted at one end of said insulator, an arcing horn electrically connected to said contact, a load terminal mounted at the Opposite end of said insulator, a switch mechanism including a flipper arm of resilient conducting material insulated from said load terminal with one end thereof iixedly mount-ed at said opposite end of said insulatorv said flipper arm normally biased for rotation of the free end thereof in a clockwise direction with respect to said insulator, a switch arm of conducting material having one end thereof electrically connected to and pivotally mounted on said free end of said flipper arm and normally biased for oounterclockwise rotation wi h respect thereto, the opposite end of said switch arm being engageable with said line terminal contact, a grounded arcing horn mounted on said insulator intermediate the ends thereof substantially in the plane of rotation of said switch erin and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom and a predetermined distance from said iirst mentioned arcing horn, an arc chute comprising a pair of plates mounted on said insulator in parallel relationship on opposite sides of and spaced from said grounded arcing horn, a latch engageablo with said flipper arm to normally hold the free end thereof from clockwise rotation and said opposite end of said switch arm in engagement with said line terminal contact, releasable holding means electrically connected in se tween said iiipper arm and said load te normally hold said latch engageable u said flipper arm, said means being responsive to a predetermined value of current flowing through GEORGE F. LINCKS.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Creighton June 11, 1918 Legg Mar. 2, 1926 Schofield Sept. 8, 1931 Brown et al May 23, 1944 Smith Mar. 28, 1950 Graybill Mar. 20, 1951 

